Naman Shrestha
The market consists of many unique flavors of chips, but Joe Sasto managed to create snackable pasta chips, thanks to his love and passion for pasta. He and the co-founder, Sean Knecht, of Tantos make an appearance in the sixth episode of ABC’s ‘Shark Tank’ season 17, where they let the Sharks in front of them taste different-flavored puffed pasta chips. Meanwhile, they shared a few details about their future plans regarding Tantos and how guidance from the Sharks could help them make even more profits and grow as a brand.
Tantos Chips: Who Are They and What Do They Do?
The renowned celebrity chef, Joe Sasto, known for his appearances on Bravo’s ‘Top Chef,’ ‘Tournament of Champions,’ and The Food Network, was working at a private event at Cal Mare in 2018 when the idea for Tantos came to him. He came across some leftover pasta that had turned into little chips as it was kept under heating lamps for a significant amount of time. During a conversation with Food Business News, Joe explained, “I threw them (the pasta) into the deep fryer and said, ‘Look, these look like chicharrons (fried pork skin).’ They kind of puffed up and had this unique texture that was crunchy. I felt like it could have more of a chicharron-like texture. I thought, ‘I might be onto something here.'” The famous chef continued to experiment to improve the pasta chip, while showcasing his innovation at pop-up events.
He was then contacted by Sean Knecht, a 2009 University of Massachusetts Amherst graduate who was interested in the art of making pasta. After interning at Live Nation, the Houston Astros, Houston Rockets, and UMass Athletics Marketing, Sean worked at SoccerFest, IMG, and Premier Partnerships. In 2013, he became the Vice President of Business Development of PrideBites LLC, where he currently serves as the President. While talking with Joe, Sean asked him about the flour-to-egg ratio in the pasta chips. He told Food Business News, “I thought this (the message) would go into thin air and never be responded to. He responded to it within two hours and I was totally geeking out. Fast-forward we have a texting relationship where I would ask him cooking questions and he would respond.”
As they stayed in touch, they not only became good friends but also collaborated to bring Joe’s innovation to life. The duo started promoting the puffed pasta chips on Joe’s social media platform. When the product was a hit among the people, they officially launched Tantos in July 2024. Inspired by classic Italian flavors and Joe’s love for pasta, Tantos comes from an Italian expression, “Tanto Si,” which translates to “so much yes.” Made with flour and water and seasoned with Italian spices after frying in oil, the chips have become several people’s go-to snacking options during movie nights, game nights, school lunches, beach days, and more.
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Tantos Chips: Where Are They Now?
Once limited to sales only through its website, Tantos has expanded its presence in the market. The puffed pasta chips are now available for purchase on popular platforms, grocery chains, and supermarkets such as Amazon, TikTok Shop, H-E-B, The Fresh Market, Faire Wholesale Marketplace, Pod Foods, Raley’s, and Pop Up Grocer. Since its launch in 2024, Tantos has continued to strengthen its network and market appeal by constantly improving the quality and range to reach new customers and ensure their satisfaction. In February 2025, the brand collaborated with Zazas Pizzeria for a month to sell its special Grandma Pie sprinkled with Tantos. In the same month, Joe and crew also attended the South Beach Wine & Food Festival in Florida.
In March 2025, Joe and team attended the Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, California, as one of the 50 brands selected for the event, marking a big win in their trajectory. The team launched a blog titled Behind the Bag in June, dedicated to providing insight into the brand’s development. Joe also took the product to Grassa in Portland, Oregon, at their Vancouver and South East Hawthorne branches in the same month. July saw the brand’s first-ever national grocery store space at Raleys, and it was just the beginning, as mentioned above. Over the course of the year, Tantos collaborated with several notable brands, including Coda di Volpe, Tsar Nicoulai Caviar, House Wine, and JetBlue Mint. Joe also made an appearance on WGN News to introduce Tantos to a wider audience.
The Italian snack company has also received a shoutout from ‘Top Chef: All Stars’ fame Chef Jamie Lynch. Joe and his partner, Kait Sasto, also graced the attendees at APEX x IFSA Global Expo in September 2025. As far as the products are concerned, as of writing, Tantos is available in four lip-smacking flavors: Marinara, Pesto, Cacio e Pepe, and Classico. 6 and 8 bags of single-serving packets (1oz) retail for $17.94 and $23.92, respectively. 6 bags of shareable 4oz packets are available for $41.94, while two bags of the same 4oz packs cost $13.98. The company also offers a bundle pack featuring all four flavors. A single-serving variety pack of 8 bags of chips (2 of each flavor) is priced at $23.92, while 12 bags (3 of each flavor) and 24 bags (6 of each flavor) are priced at $35.88 and $71.76, respectively. Meanwhile, the shareable pack of 12 bags (3 of each flavor) costs $83.88, whereas the pack of 4 bags (1 of each flavor) retails for $27.96. You can also avail of subscriptions ranging from 1 to 5 weeks (except 4) at discounted rates. Furthermore, orders over $25 are eligible for free shipping.
